The Internal Revenue Service says you are allowed a premium tax credit only for health insurance coverage you purchase through the Marketplace for yourself or other members of your tax family. However, to be eligible for the premium tax credit, your household income must be at least 100, but no more than 400 percent of the federal poverty line for your family size. An individual who meets these income requirements must also meet other eligibility criteria.
The amount of the premium tax credit is based on a sliding scale, with greater credit amounts available to those with lower incomes. Based on the estimate from the Marketplace, you can choose to have all, some, or none of your estimated credit paid in advance directly to your insurance company on your behalf to lower what you pay out-of-pocket for your monthly premiums. These payments are called advance payments of the premium tax credit. If you do not get advance credit payments, you will be responsible for paying the full monthly premium.
If the advance credit payments are more than the allowed premium tax credit, you will have to repay some or all the excess. If your projected household income is close to the 400 percent upper limit, be sure to consider the amount of advance credit payments you choose to have paid on your behalf. You want to consider this carefully because if your household income on your tax return is 400 percent or more of the federal poverty line for your family size, you will have to repay all of the advance credit payments made on behalf of you and your family members.
For purposes of claiming the premium tax credit for 2014 for residents of the 48 contiguous states or Washington, D.C., the following table outlines household income that is at least 100 percent but no more than 400 percent of the federal poverty line:
Federal Poverty Line for 2014 Returns 100% of FPL 400% of FPL One Individual $11,490 up to $45,960 Family of two $15,510 up to $62,040 Family of four $23,550 up to $94,200
The Department of Health and Human Services provides guidelines for residents of the 48 contiguous states and Washington D.C., one for Alaska residents and one for Hawaii residents. For purposes of the premium tax credit, eligibility for a certain year is based on the most recently published set of poverty guidelines at the time of the first day of the annual open enrollment period for coverage for that year. As a result, the premium tax credit for 2014 is based on the guidelines published in 2013. The premium tax credit for coverage in 2015 is based on the 2014 guidelines.
For more information, you can spend hours digging through irs.gov or you can spend a half hour on the phone with one of the tax professionals at Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith at (502) 896-2999. |
Showing posts with label Mahoney & Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mahoney & Smith. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
How Your Income Affects Your Premium Tax Credit
shared by Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith, a CPA Firm
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Health Care Law Tax Provisions in Video
Employers and health coverage providers now have access to recorded webinars from IRS about the Affordable Care Act’s employer provisions and related tax requirements. If you are a business owner, tax manager, employee benefits manager, or health coverage provider, you can access and review these videos anytime to better understand how the health care law may affect your organization.
Each of the following ACA videos on the IRS Video Portal provides about 40 minutes of detailed information on the specific tax provision mentioned in the title.
Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage Information Reporting Requirements for Applicable Large Employers (37 minutes)
Learn about employer-sponsored health coverage information reporting requirements for applicable large employers, including:
Information Reporting Requirements for Providers of Minimum Essential Coverage (35 minutes)
Learn about the information reporting requirements for providers of minimum essential coverage, including employers that provide self-insured coverage. Learn about:
View the recorded webinars in the IRS Video Portal using one of the following tabs: Businesses, Tax Professionals, Governments and Non-Profits. After clicking on one of these tabs, simply select “Affordable Care Act” from the list of topics on the left side of the screen, and you will see a list of recordings about these and other ACA topics.
In addition to videos about the tax provisions of the Affordable Care Act on the IRS Video Portal, there is a wide range of videos on other tax topics for individuals, businesses and tax professionals.
For more information about the Affordable Care Act visit IRS.gov/aca or call your Louisville Tax Professionals at Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith, PLLC at 502-896-2999.
Each of the following ACA videos on the IRS Video Portal provides about 40 minutes of detailed information on the specific tax provision mentioned in the title.
Learn about determining applicable large employer status, payments, and transition relief for 2015.
Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage Information Reporting Requirements for Applicable Large Employers (37 minutes)
Learn about employer-sponsored health coverage information reporting requirements for applicable large employers, including:
- who is required to report
- what information the law requires you to report
- how to complete the required forms
Information Reporting Requirements for Providers of Minimum Essential Coverage (35 minutes)
Learn about the information reporting requirements for providers of minimum essential coverage, including employers that provide self-insured coverage. Learn about:
- who is required to report
- what information the law requires you to report
- how to complete the required forms
View the recorded webinars in the IRS Video Portal using one of the following tabs: Businesses, Tax Professionals, Governments and Non-Profits. After clicking on one of these tabs, simply select “Affordable Care Act” from the list of topics on the left side of the screen, and you will see a list of recordings about these and other ACA topics.
In addition to videos about the tax provisions of the Affordable Care Act on the IRS Video Portal, there is a wide range of videos on other tax topics for individuals, businesses and tax professionals.
For more information about the Affordable Care Act visit IRS.gov/aca or call your Louisville Tax Professionals at Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith, PLLC at 502-896-2999.
Friday, August 14, 2015
IRS's Summertime Tax Tips
Straight from the horse's mouth - assuming the IRS is the horse - on this beautiful Friday in the Bluegrass State! If you owe tax, the IRS offers safe and easy ways to pay. Check with Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith CPAs at 502-896-2999 if you have questions or need any help.
Summertime tax payment tips:
Summertime tax payment tips:
- Pay your tax bill. If you get a bill, you should pay it as soon as you can. You should always try to pay in full to avoid any additional charges. See if you can use your credit card or to get a loan to pay in full. If you can’t pay in full, you’ll save if you pay as much as you can. The more you can pay, the less interest and penalties you will owe for late payment. The IRS offers several payment options on IRS.gov.
- Use IRS Direct Pay. The best way to pay your taxes is with IRS Direct Pay. It’s the safe, easy and free way to pay from your checking or savings account. You can pay your tax in just five simple steps in one online session. Just click on the “Payment” tab on IRS.gov. You can now use Direct Pay with the IRS2Go mobile app.
- Get a short-term payment plan. If you owe more tax than you can pay, you may qualify for more time, up to 120 days, to pay in full. You do not have to pay a user fee to set up a short-term full payment agreement. However, the IRS will charge interest and penalties until you pay in full. It’s easy to apply online at IRS.gov. If you get a bill from the IRS, you may call the phone number listed on it. If you don’t have a bill, call 800-829-1040 for help.
- Apply for an installment agreement. Most people who need more time to pay can apply for an Online Payment Agreement on IRS.gov. A direct debit payment plan is the hassle-free way to pay. The set-up fee is much less than other plans and you won’t miss a payment. If you can’t apply online, or prefer to do so in writing, use Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request. Individuals can use Direct Pay to make their installment payments. For more about payment plan options, visit IRS.gov.
- Check out an offer in compromise. An offer in compromise, or OIC, may let you settle your tax debt for less than the full amount you owe. An OIC may be an option if you can’t pay your tax in full. It may also apply if full payment will cause a financial hardship. Not everyone qualifies, so make sure you explore all other ways to pay your tax before you submit an OIC to the IRS. Use the OIC Pre-Qualifier tool to see if you qualify. It will also tell you what a reasonable offer might be.
- Change your withholding or estimated tax. If you are an employee, you can avoid a tax bill by having more taxes withheld from your pay. To do this, file a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, with your employer. The IRS Withholding Calculator tool on IRS.gov can help you fill out the form. If you are self-employed you may need to make or change your estimated tax payments. See Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals for learn more.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
IRS Offers Tips for Starting a New Business
When you start a business, a key to your success is to know your tax obligations. You may need to not only know about tax rules but also on rules payroll tax.
Here are five tips IRS tax that can help make your business off to a good start.
Business structure. Need early to decide what type of structure will choose for your business.
Business tax. There are four general types of business taxes. These are: income tax, self-employment tax, employment tax and excise duties. In most cases, the types of taxes you pay your business depends on the type of business structure that you set. You may have to make payments of estimated taxes. If you do, use IRS Direct Pay to pay. It's fast, easy and secure way to pay for your checking or savings account so.
Employer Identification Number (EIN). You may need to get an EIN for federal tax purposes. Visit IRS.gov to find out if you need it and to apply online.
Method of accounting. An accounting method is a set of rules used to determine when to report income and expenses. You must use a consistent method. The two most common are the cash method and accrual method. Under the cash method, you generally report income and expenses deducted in the year they are received or paid. Under the accrual method, you generally report income and deduct expenses in the year in which the gains or incurred. This is true even if the income is earned or paid the expense in a year later.
Employee health care. The health tax credit for small businesses helps small businesses and tax-exempt organizations to pay for the health care coverage they offer their employees. A small employer is eligible for the credit if you have fewer than 25 employees working full time, or a combination of full time and part time. The maximum credit is 50 percent of the premiums paid by small business employers and 35 percent of premiums paid by small tax-exempt employers such as charities.
The provisions of the shared responsibility of the employer of the Health Care Act Affordable affect employers who employ at least a certain number of employees (usually 50 full-time employees or a combination of full- and time partial). These employers are called large employers applicable (ALE).
ALEs must offer minimum essential coverage for full-time employees (and their dependents), or potentially make a payment dela shared responsibility of the employer to the IRS. The vast majority of employers fall under the threshold number of employees of ALE and, therefore, not subject to the provisions of shared responsibility of employers.
Employers also have the responsibility to report the information in relation to the minimum essential coverage offered or provided to full-time employees. Employers must send reports to employees and the IRS about new forms that the IRS created for this purpose.
Get all the tax bases of starting a business on IRS.gov in the Small Business Center and the Center for self-employment taxes.
Here are five tips IRS tax that can help make your business off to a good start.
Business structure. Need early to decide what type of structure will choose for your business.
Business tax. There are four general types of business taxes. These are: income tax, self-employment tax, employment tax and excise duties. In most cases, the types of taxes you pay your business depends on the type of business structure that you set. You may have to make payments of estimated taxes. If you do, use IRS Direct Pay to pay. It's fast, easy and secure way to pay for your checking or savings account so.
Employer Identification Number (EIN). You may need to get an EIN for federal tax purposes. Visit IRS.gov to find out if you need it and to apply online.
Method of accounting. An accounting method is a set of rules used to determine when to report income and expenses. You must use a consistent method. The two most common are the cash method and accrual method. Under the cash method, you generally report income and expenses deducted in the year they are received or paid. Under the accrual method, you generally report income and deduct expenses in the year in which the gains or incurred. This is true even if the income is earned or paid the expense in a year later.
Employee health care. The health tax credit for small businesses helps small businesses and tax-exempt organizations to pay for the health care coverage they offer their employees. A small employer is eligible for the credit if you have fewer than 25 employees working full time, or a combination of full time and part time. The maximum credit is 50 percent of the premiums paid by small business employers and 35 percent of premiums paid by small tax-exempt employers such as charities.
The provisions of the shared responsibility of the employer of the Health Care Act Affordable affect employers who employ at least a certain number of employees (usually 50 full-time employees or a combination of full- and time partial). These employers are called large employers applicable (ALE).
ALEs must offer minimum essential coverage for full-time employees (and their dependents), or potentially make a payment dela shared responsibility of the employer to the IRS. The vast majority of employers fall under the threshold number of employees of ALE and, therefore, not subject to the provisions of shared responsibility of employers.
Employers also have the responsibility to report the information in relation to the minimum essential coverage offered or provided to full-time employees. Employers must send reports to employees and the IRS about new forms that the IRS created for this purpose.
Get all the tax bases of starting a business on IRS.gov in the Small Business Center and the Center for self-employment taxes.
IRS Removes Automatic W2 Extensions
The Internal Revenue Service has issued final and temporary regulations removing the automatic 30-day extension of time to file information returns on forms in the W-2 series, with the exception of Form W-2G, in an effort to combat tax-related identity theft, starting in 2017, according to an article in Accounting Today by Michael Cohn.
They are doing this to fight identity theft.
If you'd like to read the entire article, click here.
They are doing this to fight identity theft.
If you'd like to read the entire article, click here.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Yes, Virginia, it IS taking longer to do your taxes this year:-)
Tax season is supposed to be over on April 15. But among certain groups—especially the wealthy—filing for an extension until Oct. 15 is now routine, according to Bloomberg Business and Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith CPAs.
In 2011, 11 million taxpayers filed for an extension; two years later, 13 million did, an increase of almost 20 percent. At the end of September 2014, more than 25 percent of those who had filed for an extension were still working on their filings. We're not just procrastinators. It has gotten harder to file on time. Here’s why:
1. You don't have the forms you need.
The more complicated your investments, the more likely it is that you won't have everything you need to file your taxes by April 15. Often, private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds are structured as partnerships, which means their earnings generate so-called “Schedule K-1” forms, which sometimes take until late summer to arrive.
Christine Freeland, a certified public accountant in Chandler, Ariz., says brokers are putting more of her clients in energy or real estate partnerships instead of (or in addition to) mutual funds, which means more K-1s. Some clients don't even know how many K-1s they'll be getting, she says, and they think their return is ready until they receive an additional K-1 in the mail. Sometimes the partnerships—which have to finish their own returns before they can issue K-1 forms—get extensions, although they must file by Sept. 15.
Simpler investments that generate 1099 forms can slow down the process, too. Brokerage statements have to be out by Feb. 15, but many note that the information may not be final. One of Freeland's clients once handed her a corrected brokerage statement that hadn't arrived until April 15.
2. You're waiting on other people.
The more middlemen standing between you and your tax forms, the greater the chances of delay. According to Bill Zatorski of accounting firm PwC, a common sticking point for wealthy taxpayers is data from funds of funds, hedge funds that invest in hedge funds. A fund of funds can’t send you a K-1 until it receives K-1s, or other needed forms, from all the various funds it holds.
Adding to the delay, says Kevin Meehan of Wealth Enhancement Group, is that investors rarely hold funds or other investments directly. Everything gets funneled through brokerages. You wait for your brokerage, which is waiting for your fund-of-funds, which is awaiting forms for all the funds it holds. An extension until Oct. 15 is only a partial solution for taxpayers with late tax forms: They still must pay an estimate of what they owe by April 15, even if the full return comes later.
3. The tax code is more complicated.
If all else fails, blame Congress. Taxpayers already must follow different rules for wages, capital gains, and two types of dividends—those that get taxed at a lower tax rate and those that don’t meet the “qualified” criteria. In 2013, yet another tax category was added, a 3.8 percent net investment income tax on married couples earning more than $250,000 per year.
Under a 2010 law, taxpayers also now must report all their overseas holdings—a process that sometimes requires the close reading of K-1 footnotes, Zatorski says. Finally, there’s the alternative minimum tax, or AMT, a parallel tax system designed to limit the deductions that wealthier Americans can take. Plenty of those affected aren’t particularly wealthy. About 4.2 million people were ensnared by the AMT in 2014, the Tax Policy Center estimates, up 8 percent from the year before. The AMT alone can almost double how long it takes to fill out a tax return, the National Taxpayer Advocate says.
In 2011, 11 million taxpayers filed for an extension; two years later, 13 million did, an increase of almost 20 percent. At the end of September 2014, more than 25 percent of those who had filed for an extension were still working on their filings. We're not just procrastinators. It has gotten harder to file on time. Here’s why:
1. You don't have the forms you need.
The more complicated your investments, the more likely it is that you won't have everything you need to file your taxes by April 15. Often, private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds are structured as partnerships, which means their earnings generate so-called “Schedule K-1” forms, which sometimes take until late summer to arrive.
Christine Freeland, a certified public accountant in Chandler, Ariz., says brokers are putting more of her clients in energy or real estate partnerships instead of (or in addition to) mutual funds, which means more K-1s. Some clients don't even know how many K-1s they'll be getting, she says, and they think their return is ready until they receive an additional K-1 in the mail. Sometimes the partnerships—which have to finish their own returns before they can issue K-1 forms—get extensions, although they must file by Sept. 15.
Simpler investments that generate 1099 forms can slow down the process, too. Brokerage statements have to be out by Feb. 15, but many note that the information may not be final. One of Freeland's clients once handed her a corrected brokerage statement that hadn't arrived until April 15.
2. You're waiting on other people.
The more middlemen standing between you and your tax forms, the greater the chances of delay. According to Bill Zatorski of accounting firm PwC, a common sticking point for wealthy taxpayers is data from funds of funds, hedge funds that invest in hedge funds. A fund of funds can’t send you a K-1 until it receives K-1s, or other needed forms, from all the various funds it holds.
Adding to the delay, says Kevin Meehan of Wealth Enhancement Group, is that investors rarely hold funds or other investments directly. Everything gets funneled through brokerages. You wait for your brokerage, which is waiting for your fund-of-funds, which is awaiting forms for all the funds it holds. An extension until Oct. 15 is only a partial solution for taxpayers with late tax forms: They still must pay an estimate of what they owe by April 15, even if the full return comes later.
3. The tax code is more complicated.
If all else fails, blame Congress. Taxpayers already must follow different rules for wages, capital gains, and two types of dividends—those that get taxed at a lower tax rate and those that don’t meet the “qualified” criteria. In 2013, yet another tax category was added, a 3.8 percent net investment income tax on married couples earning more than $250,000 per year.
Under a 2010 law, taxpayers also now must report all their overseas holdings—a process that sometimes requires the close reading of K-1 footnotes, Zatorski says. Finally, there’s the alternative minimum tax, or AMT, a parallel tax system designed to limit the deductions that wealthier Americans can take. Plenty of those affected aren’t particularly wealthy. About 4.2 million people were ensnared by the AMT in 2014, the Tax Policy Center estimates, up 8 percent from the year before. The AMT alone can almost double how long it takes to fill out a tax return, the National Taxpayer Advocate says.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Beware of the IRS' "Dirty Dozen" Tax Scams
This just in from Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith, one of Louisville's leading accounting firms, the Internal Revenue Service wrapped up the 2015 "Dirty Dozen" list of tax scams today with a warning to taxpayers about aggressive telephone scams continuing coast-to-coast during the early weeks of this year's filing season.
The aggressive, threatening phone calls from scam artists continue to be seen on a daily basis in states across the nation. The IRS urged taxpayers not give out money or personal financial information as a result of these phone calls or from emails claiming to be from the IRS.
Phone scams and email phishing schemes are among the "Dirty Dozen" tax scams the IRS highlighted, for the first time, on 12 straight business days from Jan. 22 to Feb. 6. The IRS has also set up a special section on IRS.gov highlighting these 12 schemes for taxpayers.
"We are doing everything we can to help taxpayers avoid scams as the tax season continues," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. "Whether it's a phone scam or scheme to steal a taxpayer's identity, there are simple steps to take to help stop these con artists. We urge taxpayers to visit IRS.gov for more information and to be wary of these dozen tax scams."
Illegal scams can lead to significant penalties and interest for taxpayers, as well as possible criminal prosecution. IRS Criminal Investigation works closely with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to shutdown scams and prosecute the criminals behind them. Taxpayers should remember that they are legally responsible for what is on their tax returns even if it is prepared by someone else. Make sure the preparer you hire is up to the task.
Here is a recap of this year's "Dirty Dozen" scams:
Phone Scams: Aggressive and threatening phone calls by criminals impersonating IRS agents remains an ongoing threat to taxpayers. The IRS has seen a surge of these phone scams in recent months as scam artists threaten police arrest, deportation, license revocation and other things. The IRS reminds taxpayers to guard against all sorts of con games that arise during any filing season. (IR-2015-5)
Phishing: Taxpayers need to be on guard against fake emails or websites looking to steal personal information. The IRS will not send you an email about a bill or refund out of the blue. Don’t click on one claiming to be from the IRS that takes you by surprise. Taxpayers should be wary of clicking on strange emails and websites. They may be scams to steal your personal information. (IR-2015-6)
Identity Theft: Taxpayers need to watch out for identity theft especially around tax time. The IRS continues to aggressively pursue the criminals that file fraudulent returns using someone else’s Social Security number. The IRS is making progress on this front but taxpayers still need to be extremely careful and do everything they can to avoid becoming a victim. (IR-2015-7)
Return Preparer Fraud: Taxpayers need to be on the lookout for unscrupulous return preparers. The vast majority of tax professionals provide honest high-quality service. But there are some dishonest preparers who set up shop each filing season to perpetrate refund fraud, identity theft and other scams that hurt taxpayers. Return preparers are a vital part of the U.S. tax system. About 60 percent of taxpayers use tax professionals to prepare their returns. (IR-2015-8)
Offshore Tax Avoidance: The recent string of successful enforcement actions against offshore tax cheats and the financial organizations that help them shows that it’s a bad bet to hide money and income offshore. Taxpayers are best served by coming in voluntarily and getting their taxes and filing requirements in order. The IRS offers the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) to help people get their taxes in order. (IR-2015-09)
Inflated Refund Claims: Taxpayers need to be on the lookout for anyone promising inflated refunds. Taxpayers should be wary of anyone who asks them to sign a blank return, promise a big refund before looking at their records, or charge fees based on a percentage of the refund. Scam artists use flyers, advertisements, phony store fronts and word of mouth via community groups and churches in seeking victims. (IR-2015-12)
Fake Charities: Taxpayers should be on guard against groups masquerading as charitable organizations to attract donations from unsuspecting contributors. Contributors should take a few extra minutes to ensure their hard-earned money goes to legitimate and currently eligible charities. IRS.gov has the tools taxpayers need to check out the status of charitable organizations. Be wary of charities with names that are similar to familiar or nationally known organizations. (IR-2015-16)
Hiding Income with Fake Documents: Hiding taxable income by filing false Form 1099s or other fake documents is a scam that taxpayers should always avoid and guard against. The mere suggestion of falsifying documents to reduce tax bills or inflate tax refunds is a huge red flag when using a paid tax return preparer. Taxpayers are legally responsible for what is on their returns regardless of who prepares the returns. (IR-2015-18)
Abusive Tax Shelters: Taxpayers should avoid using abusive tax structures to avoid paying taxes. The IRS is committed to stopping complex tax avoidance schemes and the people who create and sell them. The vast majority of taxpayers pay their fair share, and everyone should be on the lookout for people peddling tax shelters that sound too good to be true. When in doubt, taxpayers should seek an independent opinion regarding complex products they are offered. (IR-2015-19)
Falsifying Income to Claim Credits: Taxpayers should avoid inventing income to erroneously claim tax credits. Taxpayers are sometimes talked into doing this by scam artists. Taxpayers are best served by filing the most-accurate return possible because they are legally responsible for what is on their return. (IR-2015-20)
Excessive Claims for Fuel Tax Credits: Taxpayers need to avoid improper claims for fuel tax credits. The fuel tax credit is generally limited to off-highway business use, including use in farming. Consequently, the credit is not available to most taxpayers. But yet, the IRS routinely finds unscrupulous preparers who have enticed sizable groups of taxpayers to erroneously claim the credit to inflate their refunds. (IR-2015-21)
Frivolous Tax Arguments: Taxpayers should avoid using frivolous tax arguments to avoid paying their taxes. Promoters of frivolous schemes encourage taxpayers to make unreasonable and outlandish claims to avoid paying the taxes they owe. These arguments are wrong and have been thrown out of court. While taxpayers have the right to contest their tax liabilities in court, no one has the right to disobey the law or disregard their responsibility to pay taxes. The penalty for filing a frivolous tax return is $5,000. (IR-2015-23)
The aggressive, threatening phone calls from scam artists continue to be seen on a daily basis in states across the nation. The IRS urged taxpayers not give out money or personal financial information as a result of these phone calls or from emails claiming to be from the IRS.
Phone scams and email phishing schemes are among the "Dirty Dozen" tax scams the IRS highlighted, for the first time, on 12 straight business days from Jan. 22 to Feb. 6. The IRS has also set up a special section on IRS.gov highlighting these 12 schemes for taxpayers.
"We are doing everything we can to help taxpayers avoid scams as the tax season continues," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. "Whether it's a phone scam or scheme to steal a taxpayer's identity, there are simple steps to take to help stop these con artists. We urge taxpayers to visit IRS.gov for more information and to be wary of these dozen tax scams."
Illegal scams can lead to significant penalties and interest for taxpayers, as well as possible criminal prosecution. IRS Criminal Investigation works closely with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to shutdown scams and prosecute the criminals behind them. Taxpayers should remember that they are legally responsible for what is on their tax returns even if it is prepared by someone else. Make sure the preparer you hire is up to the task.
Here is a recap of this year's "Dirty Dozen" scams:
Phone Scams: Aggressive and threatening phone calls by criminals impersonating IRS agents remains an ongoing threat to taxpayers. The IRS has seen a surge of these phone scams in recent months as scam artists threaten police arrest, deportation, license revocation and other things. The IRS reminds taxpayers to guard against all sorts of con games that arise during any filing season. (IR-2015-5)
Phishing: Taxpayers need to be on guard against fake emails or websites looking to steal personal information. The IRS will not send you an email about a bill or refund out of the blue. Don’t click on one claiming to be from the IRS that takes you by surprise. Taxpayers should be wary of clicking on strange emails and websites. They may be scams to steal your personal information. (IR-2015-6)
Identity Theft: Taxpayers need to watch out for identity theft especially around tax time. The IRS continues to aggressively pursue the criminals that file fraudulent returns using someone else’s Social Security number. The IRS is making progress on this front but taxpayers still need to be extremely careful and do everything they can to avoid becoming a victim. (IR-2015-7)
Return Preparer Fraud: Taxpayers need to be on the lookout for unscrupulous return preparers. The vast majority of tax professionals provide honest high-quality service. But there are some dishonest preparers who set up shop each filing season to perpetrate refund fraud, identity theft and other scams that hurt taxpayers. Return preparers are a vital part of the U.S. tax system. About 60 percent of taxpayers use tax professionals to prepare their returns. (IR-2015-8)
Offshore Tax Avoidance: The recent string of successful enforcement actions against offshore tax cheats and the financial organizations that help them shows that it’s a bad bet to hide money and income offshore. Taxpayers are best served by coming in voluntarily and getting their taxes and filing requirements in order. The IRS offers the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) to help people get their taxes in order. (IR-2015-09)
Inflated Refund Claims: Taxpayers need to be on the lookout for anyone promising inflated refunds. Taxpayers should be wary of anyone who asks them to sign a blank return, promise a big refund before looking at their records, or charge fees based on a percentage of the refund. Scam artists use flyers, advertisements, phony store fronts and word of mouth via community groups and churches in seeking victims. (IR-2015-12)
Fake Charities: Taxpayers should be on guard against groups masquerading as charitable organizations to attract donations from unsuspecting contributors. Contributors should take a few extra minutes to ensure their hard-earned money goes to legitimate and currently eligible charities. IRS.gov has the tools taxpayers need to check out the status of charitable organizations. Be wary of charities with names that are similar to familiar or nationally known organizations. (IR-2015-16)
Hiding Income with Fake Documents: Hiding taxable income by filing false Form 1099s or other fake documents is a scam that taxpayers should always avoid and guard against. The mere suggestion of falsifying documents to reduce tax bills or inflate tax refunds is a huge red flag when using a paid tax return preparer. Taxpayers are legally responsible for what is on their returns regardless of who prepares the returns. (IR-2015-18)
Abusive Tax Shelters: Taxpayers should avoid using abusive tax structures to avoid paying taxes. The IRS is committed to stopping complex tax avoidance schemes and the people who create and sell them. The vast majority of taxpayers pay their fair share, and everyone should be on the lookout for people peddling tax shelters that sound too good to be true. When in doubt, taxpayers should seek an independent opinion regarding complex products they are offered. (IR-2015-19)
Falsifying Income to Claim Credits: Taxpayers should avoid inventing income to erroneously claim tax credits. Taxpayers are sometimes talked into doing this by scam artists. Taxpayers are best served by filing the most-accurate return possible because they are legally responsible for what is on their return. (IR-2015-20)
Excessive Claims for Fuel Tax Credits: Taxpayers need to avoid improper claims for fuel tax credits. The fuel tax credit is generally limited to off-highway business use, including use in farming. Consequently, the credit is not available to most taxpayers. But yet, the IRS routinely finds unscrupulous preparers who have enticed sizable groups of taxpayers to erroneously claim the credit to inflate their refunds. (IR-2015-21)
Frivolous Tax Arguments: Taxpayers should avoid using frivolous tax arguments to avoid paying their taxes. Promoters of frivolous schemes encourage taxpayers to make unreasonable and outlandish claims to avoid paying the taxes they owe. These arguments are wrong and have been thrown out of court. While taxpayers have the right to contest their tax liabilities in court, no one has the right to disobey the law or disregard their responsibility to pay taxes. The penalty for filing a frivolous tax return is $5,000. (IR-2015-23)
Monday, October 20, 2014
Capital Gains for 2014
According to Motley Fool, Clients can avoid paying taxes on long-term capital gains on an asset by either not selling at all or holding onto the property a little longer. You can lower your tax bill by holding the asset for at least 12 months to trigger long-term capital gains rates and not short-term capital gains rates, which are higher. Read the article to know how long-term capital gain taxes will be calculated this year on state and federal levels.
Or if you don't feel like reading something, just call Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC at 502-896-2999.
-Gary
Or if you don't feel like reading something, just call Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC at 502-896-2999.
-Gary
Monday, September 8, 2014
2014 Statistics of Income Bulletin is available
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that the summer 2014 issue of the Statistics of Income Bulletin is available at IRS.gov.
The Statistics of Income (SOI) Division produces the online Bulletin on a quarterly basis. Articles provide the most recent data available from various tax and information returns filed by U.S. taxpayers. This issue includes articles on the following topics:
Foreign-Controlled Domestic Corporations, 2011. Foreign-controlled domestic corporations (76,793) accounted for a small share (1.3 percent) of all U.S. corporation income tax returns filed for tax year 2011. Collectively, these corporations produced 16.2 percent ($4.6 trillion) of the total receipts reported by all U.S. corporation income tax returns for the year; however, a small portion of these corporations accounted for most of this amount.
FCDCs accounted for 14.4 percent ($11.7 trillion) of the total assets reported by U.S. corporations for 2011.
Municipal Bonds, 2011. The municipal bond market was still dominated by the more than 21,000 tax-exempt governmental bonds issued in 2011, raising $297.3 billion in proceeds for public projects, such as schools, transportation infrastructure, and utilities. Tax-exempt bond proceeds totaled nearly $384.3 billion, accounting for almost all (98.4 percent) municipal bond proceeds for the year.
SOI Bulletin articles are available for download at IRS.gov/taxstats. For more information about these data, write to the Director, Statistics of Income (SOI) Division, RAS:S, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW, (K-Room 4112), Washington, DC 20224.
If you have any questions, contact Michael Maier at http://nmscpas.com/contact or call (502) 896-2999.
Related Items:
SOI Bulletin: Summer 2014
Historical Tables and Appendix
Tax Statistics
Thursday, January 9, 2014
2014 Tax Planning - 5 Tips
Tax planning very rarely makes it on people’s new year’s resolution lists. But perhaps 2014 should be the year you vow to achieve a greater level of understanding about your taxes and to properly organize and plan for your liability, according to Fox Business.
Not only would this pledge make your life easier come tax season, it could also end up keeping more money in your bank account.
Check out some tips to get rolling on fulfilling this resolution:
1. Set up your 2014 tax file. This could be an electronic file in which you scan documents and transactions throughout the year that will affect your tax return, or a folder or bin that holds the information.
The beauty of an electronic file is that at tax time you can simply e-mail it to your tax professional, who will likely also maintain the file in the event of an audit. Just make sure you have adequate back up of your data in case something goes wrong. Adding notes on the tax documents to aid your tax pro in understanding the transaction can help the filing process.
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